Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, April 7, 1917, Page 1

WAR PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY Calls Upon All Citizens to be Loyal and Assuyres Ger- mans They Will Not be Molested if They Behave Themselves WORD FLASHED TO ALL ARMY AND NAVY POSTS Vessels at Sea Were Given Precautionary Warning—Plans for Cooperation With the Entente Allies Have Taken Definite Shape—Announcement Will be Made Soon That Allied War Vessels Have Been Given Free Admission to ° American Harbors—Both Houses of Congress Have Ad- journed Until Monday—Unofficial Reports Were Receiv- ed of President Menocal of Cuba Recommending a Dec- laration of War Against Germany and the Growing Sen- timent for War in Brazil. — ‘Washington, April 6—The United States today accepted Germany's challenge to war and formally aban- doned its place as the greatest neutral of a world in_arms. President Wilson at 118 (official time) this afternoon signed the reso- lution of songress declaring the exis tence of a state of war and authoriz- ing and directing the chief executive to employ all the resources of the na. tion to prosecute hostilities against the German government to & success- ful termination. Resolution Signed Without Ceremony. The act was done without ceremony and only in the presence of members of the president's family. Word was flashed immediately to all army and navy stations and to vessels at sea and orders for further precautionary steps withheld ‘until the last moment were dispatched. « Pr proc'=mation the president aw= nounced *he state of war, called upon all citizens to manifest their loyalty and assured Germans in this country that they would be unmolested as long @s they bebaved themselves. Or- ders were issued soon afterward for the arrest of sixty ring leaders in Ger- man plots and intrigues. Preparatory Measures Discussed. The president went over all of the great ‘preparatory measures with the cabinet, discussing what has been ac- complished and dwelling, it is under- stood, upon arrangments for co-opera- tion with the entente allies against the common enemy. Plans for co- operation are said to have taken very definite shape, though there will be no announcement on the subject for the present. The seizure of German ships laid up in” American harbors was the subject of interested comment and Jegal offi- cers of the government began consid- eration of the question of whether the United States can confiscate the ships outright or must pay for them after the war. In any event, as soon as they can be made seaworthy the fine mer- chant fleet thus acquired will give America a merchant marine that could not be duplicated in several years and add more than 600,000 to the tonnage available for the transportation of supplies and munitions to the allles. Both houses of congress have ad- journed over until Monday so that thelr committees may be free tomor- row for preliminary work on war leg- islation. Word thet King George and Presi- dent Poincare had dispatched mes- sages of congratulation to the pres- jdent was information received unof- fclally. Only umofficial tnformation also, came concerning the action of President Menocal of Cuba in recom- mending a declaration of war against Germany by Cuba and the growing sentiment for war in Brazil. Change in Foreign Relations. Foreigri relationship of the United States today underwent the greatest change in the country’s _history, sweeping away virtuaily all the inters national questions of the past two vears and substituting entirely new problems. As a result, the state de- partment is being entirely recogniz- ea and the great mass of routine which has overwhelmed even the highest of- ficlals is to be redistributed along new lines. Enormous Amount of Work Expected An enormous amount of work Is ex- pected in the near future, with various commissions, military, economic and diplomatic going back and forth be- tween this country and the allies. There will be endless communications on matters of common interest. Free Admission of Allied Ships. The first act by the department when war became a fact was to pre- pare copies of the war resolution and proclamation for all the: foreign mis. sios here for immediate transmis. sion to thelr governments. Cables were gent to American missjons abroad and full mail despatches pre- pared to go forward at once. So mcch of this work had been foreseen that it merely awaited release on word that the president had signed the proclama- tion. Instructions prepared several days ago were sent to the treasury depart- ment to cease transmitting detalls of the armament and armed guards on merchantment entering American har- bods on the ground that henceforth no restrictions will be placed on such ves. sels. _Announcement will be made soon that allied war vessels have been given free admission to Ameri- can harbors. It is probable, however, that with the seizure of German ship- ping here and the enlistment of the in the patrol servies, | gountey. ngi n ree SRR PRESIDENT the railroads named herein a totally inadequate supply of empty box cars for the loading of grain and grain products 3o that at the present time there are approximately thirty million bushels of grain in elevators at Chica- go, most of which is awalting ship- ment therefrom.” Mr. Grifin adds that there are “num- erous vessels under charter at east- ern ports on which demurrage is being charged against members of the board in amounts varying from $400, to $1.- §00 per day, but that owing to the lagk of cars the shippers are unable to have their grain transported to the ves- sei The petition was filed at the height of the recent car shortage and con- mestion. - Since then the car condi- tions generally have improved great- 1y. NEARLY 100 GERMAN MERCHANT SHIPS SEIZED. May Use Them in Government Se and Pay for Them After the Wa ‘Washington, April 6.—Nearly 100 German merchant ships in American ports which were taken over today by the treasury department probably will be utllized in the government service, but whether they will be confiscated or paid for after the war had not been announced tonight. Anxious to observe treaty obligations strictly, and move in accordance with international law, officials will examine precedents carefully before deciding. A aecision on the exact steps to be taken is expected within @ few days. Officials made it ean harbors. All European neutrals are expected to receive them, except possidbly Holland. ALLEGED RINGLEADERS IN GERMAN PLOTS ARRESTED Sixty of Them Taken Into Custody on Order of Attorney General Gregory. ‘Washington, April §.—The arrest of sixty alleged ringleaders in German lots, conspiracies and machinations in the United States was ordered to- day by Attorney General Gregory im- mediately after President Wiison had signed the war resolution. Every man whose arrest was ordsred is a German citizen, is known by the department of justice, it was authcri: tatively said, to have partioinated aos tively intrigues in this o Pone b e el asdengess Bail will hn refused in each caes, it was said, and the entire group will be locked up, unless there is a change in | present plans, for the duration of the war. Indications are that. a number of other arrests will be ordered within the next few da The men are placed in three groups: those who have been convicted of vio- lation ¢! American neutrality in fur- thering German plots of various sorts and are at liberty under bond awaiting ihe action of higher courts; those who have been Indicted by federal grand Jjuries for similar offenses and are at iiberty under bonds awaiting trial, and persons neither indicted nor convicted but whose activities have been under long surveillance by the secret service or the department’s bureau'of investi- gation. ce ting crews from destroying or further dis- abling them. Having come under ‘he orotection of the America ngovern- ment, however, they now occupy a status which injects new features into the problem of their disposition. This problem officials - regard as largely one of policy. It is held that the government has abeolute traaty rights to make use of the ships, though it Is uncertain whether they can be taken over without reimbursing the German owners. In some quarters the position taken that ships of a value equal to that of American vessels sunk by German submarines should be confis- cated outright, but that it would be best to pay for the others. CONNECTICUT NAVAL MILITIA IS CALLED INTO SERVICE Adjt. Gen. Cole Has Received Orders From Secretary Daniels. Hartford, Conn. April -Adjutant General George M. Cole received orders from Secretary of the Navy Daniels early this evening calling into service the five divisions of naval militia in the state. The divisions will report at their respective armories in the morn- ing prepared to carry out further or- The order will mobilize approximate.- 1y 409 enlisted men and 26 officers, un- der command of Bbenezer Hill, Jr., of South Norwalk. The fifth division, in South Norwalk. it was said last night, now has an enlistment of 79 men, or 13 more than the divisional require- ment. The units of the five dlvisions are located in the following cities: First division, New Haven:; second divi fon, Hartford; third division, Bridge- port; fourth_division, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury, and fifth di- vision, South Norwalk. is BIG SAVING IN NAVY'S STEEL BH.L FOR 1917 Price Agreements With Manufacturers Will Save $18,000,000. Washington, April 6.—A saving of eighteen million dollars in the navy's bill for steel during 1917, and of more than two millions in a single order for torpedoes, is represented in price agreements effected with the manu- tacturers today by Secretary Daniels. The schedule of prices for the year's supply of steel, agreed on at a con- ference between the secretary and J. A Farrell, president of ihe Dmited States Steel Corporation, is the same the navy paid for its 1916 conslgnment and considerably below the current market. Detafls as to the amount or exact prices were not made public. In the case of the torpedo order, Mr. Daniefs brodght the ufacturing concern, the E. W. Bliss company of Brooklyn, to terms by invoking sev- eral days ago for the first time the new law. authorizing the government to set a reasonable price for navy ma- terial and compel private plants to abide by them. Mr. Farrell acted in_the steel price negotiations as vice chairman of the special committee of the American Iron and Steel Institute, recently ap- pointed by the Councii of National Defence to facilitate the securing of construction material. SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF TREASON IS TREASONABLE Philadelphia Judge So Informs Appli- cants for Citizenship. Philadelphia, April 6—Pudge Joseph Buffington, of the United States cir- cuit court of appeals, in addressing a group of men about to be admithd to citizenship today, informed them that any person, whether native born, na- turalized, "who knows of treason against the United States and keeps it to xhh":lel}i is Sfl:lty of treasonable act. It e recelving stolen good: the judge said. & The court also told the men that under the laws of the United States a man_ who is not a citizen can be gull- ty of treason and quoted the supreme court of the United States to the ef- fect that an alien who stays in the country in time of war “owes a local and temporary allegiance, which con- :nnes during the period of his resi- lence.” MASS. NAVAL MILITIA ORDERED TO MOBOLIZE Call to the Colors Issued by Commo- ‘dore James P. Parker. Boston, April 6.—Orders for the im- mediate mobilization of the naval mil- itia forces of this state, embracing about 1,000 officers and men, were re- ceived tonight by Commodore James P. Parker. He set in motion at once the machinery to call to the colors the companies of the naval mlilitia_ at Fall River, New Bedford, Springfleld, Newburyport_and this city. Detach- ments from Boston, Lynn, Fall-River and Marblehead have been in service for several days. SCAFFOLDING BLOWN ON MONUMENTS AND TOMBSTONES Caused Damage Estimated at Several Thousand Dollars at Greenwich. Greenwich, Conn., April PRO-AMERICAN SENTIMENT IS GROWING IN TEXAS Carranza is Said to Be Considering Expuision of Germans from Army. Brownsville, April . —Pro- American sentiment spreading rap- idly in Mexico and General Carran- 2a is reported to be considering rout- ing all Germans out of the Mexican army, acegrding to Information sent to Washington today by United States Consul Johnson in Matamoras, across the river from Brownsville. Consul Johnson’ ‘monuments and tombgtones in a cem- etery beside the Second New Yo York thsfiaman Lmes PN EFFORTS TO REACH THE CAM- BRIA-ST. QUENTIN HIG HROAD. Vlithout Parallel DEVASTATION VIEWED BY AM- BASSADOR SHARP. ENEMY IS OUTFLANKED |VILLAGES DESTROYED French Troops Continue to Recover Ground Captured by the Germans Northwest of Rheims — Germans Successful in Volhynia. Cathedrals, Churches and Chateaux Ruined—No Military Excuse for Wanton Acts—Young Girls and Wo. men Abducted by Teutons. British efforts to reach the Cambrai- St. Quentin high road and drive a sai- ent into the German lines between these two important points, outflank- ing both, ontinue successfully. In operations near Ronssoy, ten miles north of St. Quentin, Fleld Marshal Haig’s men have captured Lempire, five miles east of the Cambrai-St. Quentin road and thirteen miles south- Wwest of Cambral. Prisoners were taken by the British and large mumbers of German dead are reported by London to have been found in the captured positions. Germans Lost Heavily. The Germans lost severely in the op- ‘Washington, April 6.—Never before in the history of the world has there been such destruction wrought by either a vanquished or victorious army as that which the Germans wrought In northern France, accord- ing to the report of a hundred mile trip in that section by Ambassador Sharp, made public today at the state department. Towns Totally Destroyed. ‘Towns were totally destroyed,” the ambassador reported, “for no apparent military reason and in many of the smaller villages scarcely a house re- mained with roof iptact™ From the town of Ham several hun- “Who Shall Roll Us Away the Stone?” (Mark xvi, part of third verse) When our earthly skies are gray ‘What is this we, questioning, say? Who shall roll the stone away? While we struggle teward the goal, Saith the weary-laden soul, “Who, away, the stone shall roll?” ‘When our loved have left us lone, What our sorrow shall atone?” . Who shall roll away the stone? On the last great Easter Day, - With His angels we shall say, “God has rolled the stone away.” erations between Arras and St. Quen- tn during the past week, London re- ports. Many German degd were found by the advancing British troops. Sou:h- east of Arras the British have made progress northwest of Noreuil _after SUff fighting. East of Arras and near Wytschaete the British have carrled out raids. French Recover Ground. French troops continue to recover ground captured by the Germans northwest of Rhelms, where Berlin reports 827 French prisoners were taken in the capture of Prench poms. Paris _reports that grenade attacks have brought French successes in re- occupying lost ground in Sapigneul. Elsewhere south of the Somme there has been no infantry action of mo- ment. Germans Successful in Volhyn The German euccess at the Loboly bridgehead on the Stokhod, in Vol hynia, is reported by Berlin to have resulted in the capture of 130 Russian officers and 9,500 men. The Germans also took 15 guns and 150 machine guns and mine throwers. South of Riga, Petrograd reports, the Germans entered Russian trenches but were driven out by a counter-attack Turkish troops are reported in re- treat in Mesopotamia before the Rus- sian and British forces, which joined hands Monday on the léft bank of the Diala river. dred people, neasly half of them girls and women over 15 years of . age, were reported taken away as prison- ers. The statement given out at the de- partment follows: Telegram From Ambasador Sharp. ‘A telegram from the American am- bassador at Paris dated April 1, states that upon the invitation of the French government he _ visited on March 31 mgny of the -French towns recently retaken in ihe Invaded terri- tory. He was accompanied by one of the military attaches to the embassy. He found that the various reports cir- culated In France, which have appear- ed in American newspapers, in regard to the deplorable conditions, were in no way exaggerated. Destruction Was Wantor, Not Mili- tary. “In the larger towns or Rove and Ham, and particularly in the attrac- tive and thriving town of Chauncy, de- struction was complete. In many of the other smaller villages scarcely a house remains with roof intact. Throughout the reconquered territory there reigns a scene of desolation, and this not only true where German mili tary operations possibly might excuse destruction in the blowing up of the bridges, telegraphic and telephonic connections, raflway lines and the blocking of hikhways, by felling trees which protected the German refreat. but towns were totally destroved for no apparent military reason. Fruit trees haq either been cut down or exploded so as to completely ruin them, private houses along the coun- try highway, Including some of the | most beautiful chateaux of great value, were completely gutted by explosives systematically placed or by fire. Churches and Cathedrals Destroyed. “Blackened walls of what must have been manufactured plants, were to be seen in many towns, the salvage of which would scarcely pay for their re- moval. Agricultural implements on the farms were destroved, churches and cathedrgls were reduced to a mass of ruins by fire or by explosives Abducted Girls and Women. ‘At the town of Ham the mother of six_children told me that her husband and two daughters, one 18 and the other 15 years of age, had been car- ried away by the Germans at the time of the evacuation. Upon remonstrat- ing she had been told that as an al- ternative she might find their bodies in the canal in the rear of her house. She stated that out of the town's to- tal popuiation, several hundred peo- ple had been compelled to accompany the Germans, nearly half of whom were girls and women, over 15 years of age. A large number of French people, it is belleved, in the evacuated town and surrounding country” were compelled to go with the Germans, from the fact that few are now to be found there. Unparalleled Destruction. “T inspected on my trip mors than 100 miles in the invaded territory and left with the conviction that never be- BRYAN OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO THE GOVERNMENT Requests President Wilson to Place Him Where He Can Be Useful. Tallahassee, Fla., April 6.—Former Secretary Bryan today sent this mes- sage to President Wilson: “Believing it to be the duty of each citizen to bear his part of the burden of war and his shere of its perils, 1 hereby tender my services to the gov- ernment. Please enroll me as a pri- vate whenever I am needed. Assten me to any work that I can do wntil called to the colors. I shall, through the Red Cross, contribute to the com- fort of soldiers in the hospital gnd, through the Young. Men's Christian Association, aid in guarding the mor- als of the men in camp. Mr. Bryan, with the rank of colonel, commanded ‘a regiment of Nebraska Yolunteers during the Spanish-Ameri- NEGRO CHARGED WITH REBELLION AND TREASON Andrew J. Armstrong of Nashville is Held on $20,000 Bond. Nashville, Tenn., April 6.—A special despatch from Columbia, Tenn. says Andrew J. Armstrong, a prominent negro there, is in custody upon the charge of rebellion and rteason. The negro was placed In jail in default of $3,500 bond, which this morning was increased to $20,000. Ernest L. Ford, 24, recently return- ed from five years’ service in the Unit- ed States navy, committed suicide by shooting with & revolver at his moth homne at Windsor: No cause ia e 1 The navy closed o near- Iy 200 110 Yoot submarine chasers. The French lire st ne e ,.;.‘E‘.."“"'p‘:"' A bread card, after the German mn'mi is to be introduced in Swits- A new iigh record for hogs was cablioned ap when sales were ‘made at §$15.75. Six Allied h | mina o Sunk B sabeerbres Siace the opening of the war. Six or seven persons were killed and injured in an explosion which wrecked a building at Chicago. A Massachusetts charter was grant- ed to the Atlantic Chemical Co., of Boston, with a capital of $800,000. Directors of the Chicago Board of Trade passed a resolution favorng a national food control commission. Gold coin to the amount of $500,000 was withdrawn from the Sub-Treas- ury for shipment to South America. The Panama canal terminal ports of Cristobal and Balboa will be ci to navigation between sunset and sunrise. 40 Twelve buildings near the shell-load- ing plant of the Bethlehem Steel Co., at New Castle, Del, were destroyed by ire. Bridgeport now has a population of 167,367, based on the usual propor- tionate figures taken from the military census. The University of Pennsylvania is organizing an aero squadron of 60 students and will be equipped with six airplanes. Senator Foley's bill for a State Councll of Defense was reported favor- biy by the New York Senate finance | committee. An unidentified woman about 65 years old was instantly killed by being Crushed in an elevator in a bulldjng. at 1133 Broadway. Governor Whitman signed the bill appropriating $2,500,000 for the pur- chase of land on Rockaway Point for foriification purposes. Thrushwood, the home of Irving Bacheller, author and playwright, at Greenwich, Conn., was destroyed by fire at a loss of $100,000. vesterday to submit a plan to increase the nation’s food supplies. James Apakian, a 14-years-old boy living in_ Boston district, is lamenting because his offer to enlist in the ma- rine corps has been refused. Thomas Coyle and Joseph Schimpko, of New Britain, Conn., were sentenced 0 three months In prison for assault- ing two national guardsmen. New York Assembly passed under an emergency message the Meyer bill, which allows the governor to organize reserve and volunteed militia. Hale Holden, president of the Chi- cago, BLurlington & Quincy Railroad Co., has been elected a direetor of the Mercants’ Loan and Trust Co. Miss Margaret Wilson, the presi- dent’s daughter, handed the Red Cross her personal check for $1,000, the pro- ceeds of her spring concert tour. The weekly statement of the Bank of France shows an increase in gold holdings of 13,473,000 francs and a de- crease of 2,143,000 francs in silver. Captain Manuel Lopis, of the Span- ish navy, a member of a commission overseeing engine contracts for the Spanish Government, died at New Lon- don, Conn. Frank Monahan, chief of police of Jersey City, has resigned to remove legal obstacles to his. candidacy for city commissioner at the the eiection next month. employed by the New Ha killed near Charter Oak Park, Conn. when he stepped in front of a sout! bound New York express. Negotiations are under way with view to having the government of the province of Quebec take over the re- maining 200 reindeer of the herd brought from Lapland in 1907. The death at Rotterdam of J. V. Wierdsma, president-director of the Holland-America Line, was announced at New York by the company. Mr. Wierdsma was 71 years of age. The United States Brewers’ Associ- ciation, representing nearly $700,000,- 000 capital and composed largeiy of men of German birth or parentage, Wired President Wilson a strons piedse of support. By unanimous vote the Teuton Singing Society of Fort Worth, Texas, numbering 300 members, all of Ger- man descent, adopted resolutions af- firming allegiance to the American flag. The military authorities at Browns- ville, Texas, are holding Martin Bur- lap, who said he is a Swedish subfect. for investigation. Burlap was detained as he attempted to cross into Mexico and after he was questioned by officers. A meeting of American resident or sojourning in London was held in Queen’s hall to endorse the action of President Wilson and the American senate in declaring that a state of war exists between the United States and Germany. RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO REGULATE PRICE OF COAL Presented in Massachusetts House by Federal Relations Committee. Boston, April 6.—A resolution urg- ing congress to take such action as might be necessary to late the price of coal was presen to the house today by the cammittes on fed- eral relations. The committee en- dorsed the report of the cost of Mving commission which advocated federal NAVY IS ORDERED Naval Militia and Naval Reserve; Nearly 15,000 Men, to Join the Colors Within a Few Days IMMEDIATE ORGANIZATION OF COAST PATROL Retired Naval Officers Are Starting to Posts to Relieve Every Active Officer Now on Shore Duty—Army Has Been Ordered Expanded to Full War Strength—It is Proposed to Have Congress Authorize Drafting of the Entire Na- Steps Have Been Taken: Million Men in a Year. ‘Washington, April 6.—Measures to make ready for actual hostilities with. Germany went forward swiftly today at the war and navy departments, and. President Wilson issued a statement urging the prompt enactment of the general staf’s army p.ans, to be taken up tomorrow by the house military committee. - Complete Mobilization of Navy. Complete mobilization of the navy was ordered by Secretary Daniels im- mediately after the cabinet meeting. The naval militia_and naval reserve, totalling nearly 15,000 men, will join the colors within two or three da Every preliminary arrangement has been made. Mobilization means the Immediate organization of the coast patrol service and the taking over of the swift, pri- vately owned motor craft already en- rolled. Volunteer crews for these boats will be called out also, While .he men were assembling, telegraphic or- ders to contractors in all parts of the country were on the wirés providing supplies of every kind that will be -oen—iry. The messages were real: for instant despatch when Secrefary % | Rinigis save (he word, Retired Officers to do Shore Duty. Under the call for the reserves scores of retired naval officers are starting to posts previously selected for them to relieve every active officer now on shore duty and whose services can be spared. The active men will £0'to the fleets, active and reserve, and to merchant craft already surveyed and listed, and to be drafted into the federal service. In the war department further moves | toward mustering a great army await action by congress. Every preliminary step already has been taken, however, to carry out the project of raising and training a million men in a year, ard supplying them with full war equip- ment. War Strength of Army. News that the status had been pro- claimed by President Wilson was flashed to army and navy posts arnd ships throughout the world as eoon as the war resolution was signed at the White House. The only other thing tional Guard Into the Federal Service—Preliminary L.okmg to the Training of a —_— centers: would provide for two infantry divisions- at each post. Presumably the centers for the four cavalry d vistons ‘would be somewhere W th region of the Mexican border, so that this mounted force can be taken over border patrol work to a large ex tent, reHeving the majority of the 80 000_reguiars now assembled there. With the calling out of the 500,000 of the new army, provision will be made for a new complete division €ath tralning center, the forces airesd there supplying the instructors ard all other machinery of organization, s that the half million young men could be absorbed into the army structs with_little disorder or delay To Draft Entire National Guard. No-further steps toward calling out the national guard will be taken u congress.has acted. It is proposed draft the entire guard into the feders: service, -divorcing it from its militia status at once, Instead of summoning them under their dual alleglance or sanizations. This gan be done omly with authority of congress. When (ha Pas _been granted, even the 80,000 suardsmen now in the federal servies on. police duty will be drafied. formally 70 &5 to do away With any posaibility of duai authority over them or restric- tion on their use. GEAMAN RESERVISTS ARE UNDER STRICT SURVEILLANCE It Is Estimated ThIIVThnr- Are Be | tween 150,000 and 200,000 in This Country. ‘Washington, April 6.—The depar ment has under strict survelllane thousands of Germ eservists res dent In the United St pected of having been connected with plots already brought to light or wit plots abandoned before perfection who have been in German propagands or because of their accentuated leas ings toward the German government are regarded as likely to work agains: the interests of the United States dur ing the war. How many German reservists ar residents of the United States, a high: official said tonight, has never beer that can be done at the war depart- ment without congressional action is 1o order the regular army expanded to full war strength. In his statement President Wilson formally set himself on record as supporting the general staff plans for the army in every detall, men. Later in the day Chairman Dent of the house military committee called to see Secretary Baker, who will take the staff plan and its ccompanying $2,000,000 budget before the committee tomorrow. Draft Clauses of Bill. The conference had to do with ihe draft clauses of the bill, to which con- siderable opposition is expected at th capitol. Mr. Dent said afterward that he could mot forecast the sentiment of congress, but that he persanally was prepared to surrender his own objec- tions to compulsory service and do a1l in his power to secure harmony of action between congress and the ad- ministration. “I have been opposed always to the draft,” he said, “or to comscription systems for the army, and think It should be invoked only in time of actual necessity and emergency. How ever, 1 shall do what I can fo keep the administration and congress in agreement on the question and to avoid any conflict, especially at the present time.” To Call General Staff to Washington. Plans have been laid for caliing the full strenzth of the general staff to Washington to help in_administration of the huge task of army bullding be- fore the department. Only half of :he authorized strength of the staff can now /be on duty here under existing law.” Congress is expected to remedy this at once, however. Pending a decision by congress on the methods to be employed in raising the army, a detailed scheme for ap- pointment of new general officers and Eetting highly eficient soldlers in co: mand of each regiment cannot be worked out. The basis for this work, however, already has been established by the staff. Wide Latitude Left to the President. Wide latitude has been left to the president In the selection of gene-als under the staff plan. They may be appointed from any part of the forces 10 be raised or from civil life. Up to and including the grade of colonel, however, it Is desired by the military officials ‘that men Who have had re- cent experience in handiing troops shall be selected. Thirty-six Major Gene With thirty-two Infantry and four cavalry divisions to be organized, (here would be at least thirty-six ma- Jor generals and three times that num- ber of brigadiers to be selected and commissioned, with colonels and ma- The grade of major the highest provided for reserve officers and that of captain for the provisional list of enlisted men. Sixtean Training Centers. The creation of asixteen _tralning inciuding ke | provision for selective draft to ohtain | | accurately determined and is largel a matter of conjecture. . This official’ { belief was that the number ranged be | tween 150070 ana 200,000, The gres majority, it was kaid, are men in mid dle’life, or men who have been in th | country for so many years that thes sympathies in the present struggie ar considered virtually as having bee | transplanted to the United States. | There is, however, it was said tarmy of between 15,000 and 1, young German reservists in this try in the prime of life, who have here %o short a time—not more from three to five years—that may bo-properly rezarded as potent AouFce of trouble. Unon this army th mocret seryice and the buremu of vestigation have concentrated me of their energy. It is alleged, the were the Instrumentalities through which €aptains Poy-Ed and Von Pa pen carried out thi 1 " r activities in th country against the allles. ' A few the number, it was =aid, co oper I¥ be classed as spi CREWS OF THREE GERMAN SHIPS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY A€ 8Ban Jusn, P. R—They Had Open- ed Seacocks of a British Collier 2 Say. Jvap, P.'R, April 6. The crews of the three German ships her the foday wera taken Into custods fedarn! adthorities. The seaco the 1D-2. a British collier whi captured- by the Germans, were @dW¢ the: Crew before their arrest the ship is slowly sinking. - The fhree German ships Rico are the Odenwald, the and: the KD-3. The latter tured by the German raider Karlsr and arrived. at San Juan in Alatress Fgruary, 1915, She was interned. T Odenwnid and the President, Germa ekthantmen, took refuge at Juan in the early days of the war AMERICAN SUGAR REFINING COMPANY SETTLES SUITS at P Prestdent he by Louisiana Planters— Be Above $600,000. New Orleans, La. April 6—Settle- ment of the 1S suits brought by Louisiana planters against the Ameri- can” Sugar Refining Company under the Sherman anti-trust law, in Nov. 1913, which sought treble damages to- talling $163,000,000 which effected hers today at a-conference of officials of the sugar. company and represents- tives of the planters and cane Erowems. ‘What the company agreed to pay the planters was not announced, but per- sons Interested stated that the amount was between 3600,000 and $700,000 Stars and. Stripes Beside Union Jask. Winnipeg. Man., Apri] 6.—Stars and Stripen, - fluttering beside the Union Jack and-the flags of other allies, ap- peared on dozens of bulldings today. | President \Wilson’s proclamation was, Brought Amount Said ¢